Means for discharging torpedoes



July .6 1926. 1,591,841

. S. KENT MEANS FOR DISCHARGING TORPEDOES Filed Jan. 15, 1926 TTOANEY Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED YSTE @HQE SAMUEL KENT, OF 'lY-IVIOR, IPENTENAN, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10 SYDNEY STEWART HALL,

OF ALVERSTOKE, ENGLAND.

MEANS FORVDISCHARGING TORPEDOES.

Application led January 15, 1926, Serial No This invention relates to means 'for discharging torpedoes from submerged tory pedo tubes.

It has been proposed to insert a piston in the torpedo splashless because it does not prevent the escape of all the air out oi' the torpedo, nor does it prevent the escape of the oil and grease which rises to the surface p and so marks the point of discharge.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the discharge oi the torpedo is rendered invisible.

f According to this invention means are provided in the torpedo tube to trap the air or gases employed for discharging the torpedo and also to collect the exhaust gases, oil and the like expelled from the engine of the torpedo whilst the torpedo is travelling along the tube.

The said means may comprise a travelling disc or bulkhead, adapted to be placed in the torpedo tube at the rear of the torpedo, said disc having a central aperture therein, and being formed at said aperture with a pipe or tube adapted to be inserted in the tail of the to edo.

A sultable non-return valve is provided at the aperture in the disc, to convey the exhaust gas and the like F.from the torpedo into the expansion chamber, that is, the chamber formed between the door or end cover of the torpedo tube and the travelling disc.

The invention will now be described with Y reference to the accompanying drawing 81,576, and in Great Britain January 24, 1925.

passage g of the torpedo. The aperture 'e is itted with a non-return valve L.

The disc may be arranged to slide on the usual bearer bars in a similar manner to the torpedo.

7c is a pad of rubber or the like iitted on the disc cl such that when the disc is brought back to the discharging position in the tube a, the said pad automatically seals the mouth of the outlet y' and thus prevents water passing through the tube f to the outlet j should the said outlet be left open inadvertently.

Z is a leather or like washer on one side ot' the disc Z and m, m are two split spring rings on the other side.

In order to prevent the sealing disc ai from being expelled from the tube, a suitably positioned slot n is 'formed in the tube a so that when the rings m, m reach this slot they expand and bring the disc to rest. The said rings m, m also form a gas-tight seal between the disc and tube. l

It desired the leather washer Z may be dispensed with.

In the case where a torpedo tube is not of uniform diameter, the slot fn, would not be necessary since the rings m would abut the. restricted forward part of the tube.

Although the invention is here illustrated litted in a tube of uniform diameter, it is to be understood that it is not limited to such. as it can be fitted in any type of submerged tube.

The travelling disc or bulkhead al with its tube serves as a seal which shuts oi or traps the air or gases employed for discharging the torpedo and collects the exhaust gases, oil and the like from the torpedo engine after the torpedo has attained its velocity and the engine has warmed up. The wire drawing effect of the exhaust gases from the engine passing through the non-return valve h gives the disc cl a tendency to lag instead of advancing on the torpedo.

That I claim is l. In a submerged torpedo tube, means to trap the air or gases employed for discharging the torpedo and means for collecting the exhaust gases, oil and the like which are expelled from the engine of the torpedo whilst the torpedo is travelling along the tube.

2. In a submerged torpedo tube, means to trap the air or gases employed for discharging the torpedo and also to collect the exhaust gases, oil and the like which are expelled from the engine of the torpedo whilst the torpedo is travelling along the tube, said means Comprising a travelling dise adapted to be placed in the torpedo tube at the rear ot' the torpedo, said dise having' a central aperture therein and bein; formed, at said al erture, with a pipe or tube adapted to enter the tail' oit' the torpedo.

3. In a :eubnerged torpedo tube, lneans to trap the air or gases employed for discharging the torpedo and also to eoll'eet the exhaust' gases, oil and the like which are expelled from the engine of the torpedo whilst the torpedo is travelling alongr the tube, said means comprising a travelling dise adapted to be placed in the torpedo tube at the rear ol the torpedo` said dise havin r a central aperture therein and being' Vformed, atl said aperture, with a pipe or tube adapted to e1:- ter the tail of the torpedo, the aperture in said dise being` provided with, a non-return valve.

In teSthnony' whereof he allixes his :fignature.

SAMUEL KENT. 

